Please don't overwhelm our brothers

[Lurker]

For you it's basic, but for outsider it's not. It took me a couple of trips to realize that each Chabad house I visit is self funded.
I've questioned the kids there how it works, who sends them, how they chose where to go. It is very foreign to those not from the circle.

Just to give you a different perspective...

100% understand. I grew up on shlichus. Even people who grew up in Chabad communities don't always get what goes on. The frum traveller complaints are not limited to non-Chabad. The correct way to do things is as you did: ask questions. Why are shluchim where they are? How to they operate? What can one expect?

[Iz]

Isn't the job about being מרבה כבוד שמים ?

That isn’t classic Chabad terminology

What would be?

[AsherO]

My apologies, my background is Lakewood and Lakewood type yeshivos. But my assumption, and please correct if I'm wrong, is that the concept is a universal one even if the terminology is different.

100%. No reason to apologize.

[AsherO]

What would be?

Something along the lines of a minyan is a mitzvah and would be one more way to bring Yiddishkeit to that far flung corner of the world.

[AsherO]

What would be?

Something along the lines of a minyan is a mitzvah and would be one more way to bring Yiddishkeit to that far flung corner of the world. Not far off from מרבה כבוד שמים,  wouldn't you say?

A Chabad'nik would see minyan an expression of "לעשות לו יתברך דירה בתחתונים"

[sguitarist18]

Just a thought. That tweet would easily make me choose to NOT call and ask about minyanim (not just at his location, but in the future), and rather daven without one. I'm sure I'm not alone. If that's worth it to the guy, it's on him.

[jj1000]

Just a thought. That tweet would easily make me choose to NOT call and ask about minyanim (not just at his location, but in the future), and rather daven without one. I'm sure I'm not alone. If that's worth it to the guy, it's on him.

Your connection to Hashem is based on what other people tweet?

[avromie7]

Your connection to Hashem is based on what other people tweet?

I think you misunderstood. He's saying that by seeing that tweet he will be less likely to reach out to the local Chabad about a minyan when out on vacation. Sounds logical, if everyone now believes Chabad doesn't want them asking about a minyan people will be less likely to seek out a minyan.

[AsherO]

I think you misunderstood. He's saying that by seeing that tweet he will be less likely to reach out to the local Chabad about a minyan when out on vacation. Sounds logical, if everyone now believes Chabad doesn't want them asking about a minyan people will be less likely to seek out a minyan.

100%

[Lurker]

Just a thought. That tweet would easily make me choose to NOT call and ask about minyanim (not just at his location, but in the future), and rather daven without one. I'm sure I'm not alone. If that's worth it to the guy, it's on him.

I'd like to think that people don't let random social media posts dictate their Judaism. If one tweet by a guy in the middle of nowhere leads you to write off every Chabad House or shliach, that's a problem.

[avromie7]

Context is everything. I'd like to think that people don't let random social media posts dictate their Judaism. If one tweet by a guy in the middle of nowhere leads you to write off every Chabad House or shliach, that's a problem.

The guy is literally saying "as a chabad shliach, I'm telling you we don't want people calling up asking for a minyan." Im not sure how else you expect people to understand it.

[Lurker]

The guy is literally saying "as a chabad shliach, I'm telling you we don't want people calling up asking for a minyan." Im not sure how else you expect people to understand it.

No, he's literally saying, "I'm on a college campus in the middle of nowhere. I don't understand people calling up expecting minyanim here."

[sguitarist18]

Your connection to Hashem is based on what other people tweet?

I'd like to think that people don't let random social media posts dictate their Judaism. If one tweet by a guy in the middle of nowhere leads you to write off every Chabad House or shliach, that's a problem.

Not my relationship with hashem, but my desire to not be a huge pain the @SS to people, which is what he considers people calling and asking for a minyan. I don't want to be that, so I won't call.

Opinions and feelings are often affected more by the one guy shrieking at the top of his lungs than 10 people quietly doing the right thing.

And as others have said, he's claiming to speak for everyone.

Yes, in some areas, a minyan may not be a realistic expectation. If I'm not from the area, how would I know? I'm from Brooklyn, as far as I'm concerned, once you leave the tri-state area you're more likely to find a minyan of moose than of people.

[sguitarist18]

No, he's literally saying, "I'm on a college campus in the middle of nowhere. I don't understand people calling up expecting minyanim here."

-1

What he literally said was "stop calling chabad houses." He didn't say anything about types, college campuses, locations, etc.

[avromie7]

No, he's literally saying, "I'm on a college campus in the middle of nowhere. I don't understand people calling up expecting minyanim here."

There are plenty of minyanim in far flung areas, why is your average person supposed to know where there is and isn't a minyan?

[Lurker]

-1

What he literally said was "stop calling chabad houses." He didn't say anything about types, college campuses, locations, etc.

You're right. I'm reading it with context, both from what I know and from his follow up tweets. Maybe someone should reach out to him and explain how it came across, so he can fix it. I'm certain that his intention wasn't to stop people from trying to daven with a minyan.

[sguitarist18]

Very possible. That's the danger of social media - your only readers are the people who know you, until someone notices a controversial tweet and it goes viral.

[Dan]

Something along the lines of a minyan is a mitzvah and would be one more way to bring Yiddishkeit to that far flung corner of the world. Not far off from מרבה כבוד שמים,  wouldn't you say?

A Chabad'nik would see minyan an expression of "לעשות לו יתברך דירה בתחתונים"

Yup, making a minyan or bracha in Svalbard, the Falklands, or Antarctica felt like part of elevating nitzutzos/לעשות לו יתברך דירה בתחתונים.
מרבה כבוד שמים isn't part of Chabad lexicon, but gets you to the same place.

[AsherO]

Yup, making a minyan or bracha in Svalbard, Falklands, or Antarctica felt like part of elevating nitzutzos/לעשות לו יתברך דירה בתחתונים.
מרבה כבוד שמים isn't part of Chabad lexicon, but gets you to the same place.

Waiting for @Something Fishy's once-in-history Kosher adventure to the north pole, Svalbard was close

[Dan]

You're right. I'm reading it with context, both from what I know and from his follow up tweets. Maybe someone should reach out to him and explain how it came across, so he can fix it. I'm certain that his intention wasn't to stop people from trying to daven with a minyan.

+1.
And also agree that 90% of shluchim are excellent and are happy to answer respectful questions and 10% are only on shlichus because that's what their father did or that's what they were told in yeshiva that they should do, but they're not really cut out for dealing with people.

Respectful question: Do you have a daily minyan? Do you know where I can get kosher food in the area?
Non-respectful question: How can you not have a minyan 3 times a day? There should be plenty of people where you live to make that happen. Why can't you get your local stores to carry kosher food or why don't you run a restaurant?